BALTIMORE COLLEGE OF DENTAL SURGERY DENTAL SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND. Technical Standards for Admission and Matriculation

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1 BALTIMORE COLLEGE OF DENTAL SURGERY DENTAL SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND Technical Standards for Admission and Matriculation The mission of the Dental School is...to improve the quality of life in Maryland through education, research, and service related to health, with special emphasis on improving dental, oral, and craniofacial health. To facilitate the achievement of its mission, the Dental School s Executive Board has established specific, related goals. Admission to the Dental School is open to all qualified individuals and in accordance with the 1973 Vocational Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C et seq.). Dental education requires that the accumulation of scientific knowledge be accompanied by the simultaneous acquisition of skills and professional attitudes and behaviors essential to the profession. Students require cognitive, behavioral, technical, and social skills to negotiate the curricula. The Dental School is mindful of the unique nature of dental curricula. It is the responsibility of the Dental School s admissions committees to select candidates who are qualified to complete the required training. As part of the education process, students in all of the School s clinical programs are required to provide treatment for patients and practice techniques with student-partners. Students are required to serve as patients for their classmates in performing such diagnostic and reversible procedures as local anesthesia administration, sealant placement, and oral prophylaxis. The Dental School has the responsibility of ensuring timely and safe treatment of all patients during these processes. With these principles in mind, students must be able to meet the following technical standards, without accommodation, or with reasonable accommodation. The use of a trained intermediary is not acceptable in clinical situations. A student s judgement and skill may not be mediated by reliance upon someone else s power of selection and observation, or clinical ability. Observation A student must be able to acquire defined levels of required information and skills as presented through demonstrations and experiences in the basic, behavioral, and dental sciences. A student must be able to observe patients accurately, at a distance and close at hand, and observe and appreciate verbal as well as nonverbal communications when assessing a patient s oral and craniofacial conditions 1

2 and providing treatment. Observation necessitates functional use of the sense of vision and other sensory modalities. Observe a patient accurately, with or without standard instrumentation; Acquire information for written documents; Visualize information presented in images from paper, film, slides, computer displays, and video; Interpret x-rays or other graphic images. Communication communicate effectively and sensitively with patients; convey or exchange information at a level allowing the development of a health history; identify problems presented; explain alternative solutions; and give directions during treatment and after treatment. Communication includes at a minimum, speaking, reading, and writing. Students must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in spoken and written English with all members of the health care team and the patient. Speak, understand spoken words, and observe patients by sight in order to elicit information, describe changes in appearance, and perceive changes in nonverbal communications; Obtain a health history and other pertinent information from patients; Read and apply appropriate information and instructions contained in requisitions, notes, and patient charts; Understand and apply clinical instructions given by others; Communicate efficiently and effectively in oral and/or written form with patients, families of patients, and all members of the health care team, during both emergencies and non-emergency situations. Sensory and Motor Coordination and Function A student must have sufficient motor function to execute movements reasonably required to provide general care and emergency treatment for patients. Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements and equilibrium. A student must have functional use of the senses of touch and vision. Perform palpation and other diagnostic and therapeutic maneuvers; Perform basic laboratory procedures and work with standard laboratory materials; Reach and manipulate equipment to all positions in order to control the operating environment; Execute motor movements required to provide general and emergency care, including activating the emergency medical system. 2

3 Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities A student must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, integrate and synthesize. Problem solving, a critical skill demanded of oral health practitioners, requires all of these intellectual abilities. A student must be able to perform these problem solving skills in a timely fashion. Comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of structures. Behavioral and Social A student must possess the physiological and psychological stamina required for full utilization of intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and treatment of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients. A student must be able to interact with faculty and colleagues use good judgment, and engage in the exchanging of ideas. A student must be able to accept and give constructive criticism. Adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of patients; Display compassion, integrity, and concern for others. Other Requirements A student must comply with University immunization requirements, as outlined at: The admission of a student who is chronically infected with Hepatitis B virus will be considered on a case-by-case basis after consultation with a panel of experts in Infectious Diseases. This panel will consider the Hepatitis B e antigen status, the health of the student, and decide what, if any, restrictions and monitoring are necessary for the student during their training in dentistry or dental hygiene. Applicants with Disabilities The Dental School will provide reasonable accommodation in the admissions process for applicants with disabilities. An applicant is not disqualified from consideration due to a disability. Although the Dental School may not inquire whether an applicant has a disability prior to making an admissions decision, an applicant may disclose during the admission process a disability for which he or she wishes accommodation during the admissions process or upon admission. If this disclosure occurs, the Dental School may request that the applicant provide 3

4 documentation of the disability. The admissions committee will consider the applicant based on the published criteria for admission of all applicants. An applicant who discloses a disability and requests accommodation in the admission process will be required to submit, in writing, the request for accommodation and pertinent supporting documentation. This pertinent information will include a history of accommodations granted previously in other educational programs and references who can discuss the experience of the student in other educational settings. Requests for accommodation should be initiated with the Director of Student Support Services. The Dental School may require additional medical or other verification of disabilities and proof of information presented concerning accommodations. Such proof may include demonstration of assisted physical abilities. The School may require independent medical examinations or testing to verify claimed disabilities, determine the extent and effects of disabilities, and assess the utility of accommodations. Technical and medical consultations from resources within the University and external to the University may be obtained. Costs of independent medical examinations, testing, technical and medical consultations required by the Dental School will be borne by the Dental School. The Dental School s Administrative Advisory Committee will make a determination as to the reasonableness of the accommodations that the applicant has requested or will determine alternative reasonable accommodations that the Dental School may offer. Enrolled Students with Disabilities A student who discloses a disability and requests accommodation will be required to submit, in writing, the request for accommodation and pertinent supporting documentation. The pertinent information will include documentation of the disability, by an appropriately credentialed professional. If available, documentation should also include history of accommodations granted previously in other educational programs and references who can discuss the experience of the student in other educational settings. Requests for accommodation should be initiated with the Director of Student Support Services. The Dental School may require additional medical or other verification of disabilities and proof of information presented concerning accommodations. Such proof may include demonstration of assisted physical abilities. The School may require independent medical examinations or testing to verify claimed disabilities, determine the extent and effects of disabilities, and assess the utility of accommodations. Technical and medical consultations from resources within the University and external to the University may be obtained. Costs of independent medical examinations, testing, technical and medical consultations required by the Dental School will be borne by the Dental School. 4

5 The Dental School s Administrative Advisory Committee will make a determination as to whether the student can perform the essential functions of the educational program, taking into account the accommodations that the student has requested or alternative reasonable accommodation that the Dental School would offer. Costs of reasonable accommodation will be borne by the Dental School from its resources or other funds available to it. The Dental School will provide reasonable accommodations, but is not required to make, nor will it make, modifications that would fundamentally alter the nature of the educational program or provide auxiliary aids that present an undue burden to the Dental School. The student must be able to perform all of the technical standards with or without reasonable accommodations to matriculate or continue in the program. 5

6 Developed and submitted to University Counsel: 8/9/99 Revised by University Counsel: 10/12/99 Approved by Faculty Council 11/4/99 Revision approved by Executive Board: 3/13/01 Revision approved by Faculty Council: 11/20/01 6